Mixed martial artists have made the move over to boxing. But we haven't seen people from the sweet science to the cage for nothing more than a one-and-done.
That changes on Thursday night when three-division world champion and women's pound-for-pound queen Claressa Shields makes her MMA debut on Thursday against Brittney Elkin at PFL 4 from Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and is also the only boxer to become an undisputed champion in two different weight classes. Wanting a new challenge, the Michigan native decided she wanted to try her hand with the four-ounce gloves.
'I've done everything in boxing that you can do," Shields told DAZN News when she signed with PFL in December. "I've been a world champion. I'm currently a world champion, undisputed, and hold all titles, have titles in multiple divisions, undefeated, and still not given a fair shake. I have to keep demanding, yelling at them, and saying, 'This is my worth. This is what I'm worth. This is what I deserve'. You got to keep doing it. It just gets tiring because I still have to train for the fight. I still have to fight my opponent. Then on the flip side, I got a fight with these networks to just be treated fairly. It just gets stressful sometimes."
After winning two of her first three bouts, Elkin comes into her highest-profile contest, having lost three consecutive fights.
The prevailing thought is Shields will run Elkin over and have a successful MMA debut. But that is why they fight.
Here is everything you need to know about PFL 4: Shields vs. Elkin.
PFL 4: Shields vs. Elkin start time
- Date: Thursday, June 10
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET/3 a.m. BST
- Main event: 11:30 p.m. ET/4:30 a.m. BST
The PFL 4: Shields vs. Elkin main card kicks off at 10 p.m. ET/2 a.m. BST on Friday night. Shields and Elkin are expected to make their walks to the cage around 11:30 p.m./4:30 a.m., although that depends on the length of the earlier fights.
PFL 4: Shields vs. Elkin 4 TV channel and live stream
- ESPN2, ESPN+
PFL 4: The main card of Shields vs. Elkin can be watched on ESPN2 or live streamed via ESPN+ and the prelims are exclusively on ESPN+, starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Claressa Shields record and bio
- Nationality: American
- Age: 26
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 0
- Record: 0-0
Brittney Elkin record and bio
- Nationality: American
- Age: N/A
- Height: 6-0
- Reach: N/A
- Total fights: 9
- Record: 3-6
PFL 4: Shields vs. Elkin main card
- Claressa Shields vs. Brittney Elkin; Women's Lightweight
- Bubba Jenkins vs. Bobby Moffett; Featherweight
- Clay Collard vs. Joilton Lutterbach; Lightweight
- Brendan Loughnane vs. Tyler Diamond; Featherweight